Combined air conditioning and vacuum cleaning apparatus for buildings



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Nov. 29, 1955 s. M. FAGYAS COMBINED AIR CONDITIONING AND VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS FOR BUILDINGS Filed June 5, 1953 Nov. 29, 1955 s M. FAG

. YAS COMBINED AIR CONDITIONING AND VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS FOR BUILDINGS Filed June 5, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR STEVEN M, FAGYAs BY %mazq flmmz *AQ ATTORNEYS Nov. 29, 1955 s. M. FAGYAS COMBINED AIR CONDITIONING AND VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS FOR BUILDINGS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 5, 1953 vm NE a luuuuim N 0 #2 of m m m m G m w a. m

m 02 E v V A T S Nov. 29, 1955 s. M. FAGYAS 2,725,113

COMBINED AIR CONDITIONING AND VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS FOR BUILDINGS Filed June 5, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR STEVEN M. FAeYAs Nov. 29, 1955 s. M. FAGYAS 2,725,113

COMBINED AIR CONDITIONING AND VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS FOR BUILDINGS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 5, 1953 R S W O A E TY N N G R Wm m N T w v .w T S W o- N F :LOON W Y B United States Patent COMBINED AIR CONDITIONING AND VACUUM CLEANING APPARATUS FOR: GS

Steven M. Fagyas, Columbus, Ohio Application June 5, 1953,.Serial No. 359,821

3 Claims. (Cl. 183-37) This invention relates to an apparatus adapted to be permanently mounted in a building such-as an apartment house, ofiice building, or the like, and so designed as to provide for .fresh air circulation within said building while providing, at the same time, means whereby a readily portable cleaning tool can be plugged into a panel assembly mounted in each room of the "building, in an arranged effective to produce a vacuum within said cleaning tool.

It will be readily appreciated that the necessity of moving vacuum cleaning apparatus from place to place within a building is an annoying, tiring, and inconvenient aspect to the use of apparatus of this type. While great strides have been made inthe reduction of vacuum cleaning apparatus to comparatively simple and relatively light devices, it is a fact that said devices are still quite expensive, subject to breakdown, and of such weight as to still represent an inconvenience to a user. Still further, any vacuum cleaning device ofsufiicient size to permit its being used as an-all purpose cleaning tool Withing a residence, whether said residence be an apartment or a house, is of such bulk as totake up excessive amount of storage space when not in use.

In view of the above, one important object of the present invention is to provide apparatus which can be permanently installed in a building, in such a way as to cause the bulk of the apparatus to be disposed in an out of the way location, such as the building basement, that part of the apparatus used within the rooms to be cleaned being limited merely to suitable length of vacuum hose on which light suction nozzles are mounted.

Another object of importance is to provide apparatus of the type stated which will be so designed as to cause said apparatus to discharge notonly a vacuum cleaning function, but also, a fresh air supply function, both functions being discharged by the apparatus in an arrangement wherein the exhaustion of dust-laden air from a room will take place simultaneously with the introduction of fresh air into said room.

Another object of importance is to provide, in an apparatus of the character referred to, a dust filtering and disposal means wherein the dust will be separated from air drawn into the cleaning tool, and will be channeled into the conventional drain piping of the building, said means being so designed as to cause the dust to be precipitated within the drain piping while still causing said drain piping to be closed against the backward flow of dust, odors, or liquid therefrom. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the character referred to which will be wholly automatic in operation, that is, which will go into operation by the mere adjustment, to an open position, of the lid of a panel assembly mounted within a, room in which a cleaning tool is to be used.

A further object of importance is tov provide apparatus as described wherein the introduction of fresh air into Patented Nov. 29, 1955 2 the building can be prevented whenever desired, thus to permit the apparatus to be used as a cleaning device only.

The invention, summarized briefly, includes a blower assembly adapted to be "stationarily mounted in an outof the way location of a building, such as in the basement of said building. A fresh air intake conduit extends "to/said assembly from without the building, an extending from the blower assembly is a fresh air outlet conduit, provided with branch conduits extending toth'e several rooms of the building; A suction conduit extends from the several rooms of the building to said blower assembly, and mounted within the blower assembly so as to constitute part thereof is a suction and blower means that will circulate air through the fresh air intake conduit, fresh air outlet conduit, and suction conduit, whenever a circult is closed to an electric motor associated with and driving said means. The fresh air outlet conduit and the suction conduit open, in each room of the building, through a novelly designed panel assembly, the panel assembly being provided with switch means which is actuated to a closed position whenever the lid of the panel assembly is opened. The switch means is in circuit with said motor, and thus, the mere opening of the lid of any panel assembly energizes the motor, thus to cause air to be circulated through the several conduits. The panel assembly is so designed as to permit a cleaning tool to be plugged thereinto, in communication with the suction conduit, thus to permit cleaning operations to be carried on in any room of the building.

The invention further includes, in association with said blower assembly, means for disposing of the dust drawn to the assembly through the suction conduit. The dust disposal means includes a novelly designed and arranged filter and drain conduit assembly associated with the blower assembly. The filter assembly is so disposed as to separate dust from air, and cause said dust to gravitate into the drain piping associated wtih the filter assembly. Within the drain piping there is provided a rotatable, peripherally recessed wheel, driven by the motor of the structure so as to keep the drain piping closed at all times while at the same time causing the dust to be fed thereinto. Operation of the suction fan means that constitutes a part of the blower assembly is effective to actuate, to an open position, a valve controlling passage of water to a spray head disposed within the drain piping, said spray head being designed for causing the dust to be precipitated in water within the drain piping whenever the apparatus is in use.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawings, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, andwhe'rein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the blower assembly constituting a part of my apparatus;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of said blower assembly, as it appears when seen from the right of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, top plan view of a relief air valve associated with the fresh air conduit means;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of said relief valve and of the piping associated therewith;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through said relief valve and piping, taken substantially on line 55 of Figure 3; I

Figure 6 is an enlarged, detailed sectional view through the spray head control valve, taken substantially on line 6--6 of Figure l;

Figure 7 is a sectional view through said valve taken substantially on line 7-7 of Figure 6; 1

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the blower assembly, and of the drain means associated therewith;

Figure 9 is an end elevational view of the blower assembly, as it appears when seen from the left in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a side elevational view of the suction fan compartment cap of the blower assembly, per se;

Figure 11 is a transverse sectional view through the casing of the blower assembly, taken substantially on line 1111 of Figure 1, and showing the connection of the fresh air outlet conduit to said casing;

Figure 12 is a longitudinal sectional view through the blower assembly, taken substantially on line 12-.ll2 of Figure 1;

Figure 13 is a transverse sectional view through the blower assembly and drain piping, taken substantially on line 1313 of Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a transverse sectional view through the blower assembly casing taken substantially on line lat-14 of Figure 12, showing the means for mounting in the blower assembly the dust air filter;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the blower assembly casing, showing a filter holding and closure member as it appears before adjustment to a closed position;

Figure 16 is an enlarged, detail sectional view taken substantially on line 16-16 of Figure 8, showing the connection of the main casing portion, filter holding l'i'lCmber, and end cap to one another;

Figure 17 is an enlarged, detail sectional view taken substantially on line 1717 of Figure 8;

Figure 18 is a front elevational view of one of the panel assemblies of the apparatus, as it appears with its lid open;

Figure 19 is a transverse sectional view through said panel assembly on line 19-19 of Figure 18, showing the connection of one of the conduits to the panel assetbly and to a cleaning tool;

Figure 20 is a transverse sectional view on line 2t--2tl of Figure 18, showing the details of the switch means embodied in the assembly;

Figure 21 is a rear elevational view of the panel assembly;

Figure 22 is an elevational view of a closure plug adapted to be used in the panel assembly;

Figure 23 is a transverse sectional view through the panel assembly with the lid closed;

Figure 24 is a longitudinal sectional view through the cap of the fresh air intake conduit;

Figure 25 is an enlarged top plan vi w of the fresh air intake filter;

Figure 26 is a reduced sectional view on line 26 of Figure 25; and

Figure 27 is a diagrammatic representation showing the apparatus as it appears when mounted in a building, said building being illustrated in dotted outline. a

The combination air conditioning and vacuum cleaning apparatus for buildings constituting the present invention includes a number of related, coacting assemblies, each of which will be described in detail hereinafter. Thus, the apparatus includes a blower assembly designated generally by the reference numeral 28, a fresh air outlet conduit assembly 30, a suction conduit assembly 32 for dust laden air, a fresh air intake conduit assembly 34, a cleaning tool 36, and a dust disposal assembly 38.

Considering first the construction of the blower assembly, this includes (Figure 27) a stationary supporting frame on which is fixedly mounted a cylindrical, horizontally disposed, hollow, open ended casing body 42 to the opposite ends of which are connected tapered end ca s 44, 46 respectively.

The end caps are detachably connected to the casing body by spring loaded latches 48, (Figures 1 and 8).

As shown, for example, in Figure 1, the latches 48 are spaced circumferentially of the casing body 42, at one end of said casing body. Each latch 48 is formed as a relatively elongated arm pivotally connected at one 11Cl to the casing body, a spring being circurnposed about the pivotpin on which the latch arm is pivotally supported, with said spring being arranged to normally bias the latch arm to a closed position in which longitudinally spaced lugs formed upon the free end portion thereof straddle a circumferential shoulder 52 formed upon the larger end of the tapered end cap 44.

The latch arms 50 at the other end of the casing body 42 are identical to the arms 43, except for having a single lug rather than a pair of longitudinally spaced The lugs of the several latch arms 50 engage a circumferen tial shoulder 54 formed upon the larger end of the end cap 46, at locations spaced equal distances apart about said shoulder, thus to urge the shoulder against the adjacent end of the casing body 42 and hold the end 0 tightly assembled with said body.

Referring now to Figure 12, it will be noted that within the hollow casing defined by easing body 42 and end caps 44, 46, there is provided a motor mount 56, said motor mount being disposed medially between the opposite ends of the casing and supporting a conventional electric motor 58. The shaft of the motor 58 has one end 60 extending toward the end cap 44, the other end 62 of said motor shaft projecting beyond the opposite end of the motor, in the direction of the end cap 46. The shaft end 60 is journaled in a bearing provided in a partition 64, said partition 64 extending transversely over the casing body 42 and being spaced from a partition 66 also disposed transversely of the casing body.

As will be noted, the shaft end 62 is journaled in a bearing provided in the partition 66. It will also be observed that the partitions 64, 66, at the top of the casing body, are offset inwardly in the direction of the midlength portion of the casing body.

The partitioning of the casing in the manner described above forms the casing into a motor compartment disposed medially between the opposite ends of the casing, and end compartments, one of which constitutes a suction fan compartment and the other of which constitutes a fresh airfan compartment. In the suction fan compartment, a suction fan blade 68 is provided, said blade 68 being disposed adjacent the partition 64 and being secured to the shaft end 60 for rotation thereby. A fresh air fan blade 70, is secured to the shaft end 62 within the fresh air fan compartment, and is pitched oppositely to the blade 68. As a result, when the motor is in operation, the blades 68, 70 will be rotated simultaneously in thesame direction, but due to the pitch thereof, will cause air to be drawn inwardly through end openings in the casing, the air moving toward the midlength point of the casing, as shown by the arrows in Figure 12.

Within the suction fan compartment, adjacent the blade 68, I provide a filter assembly 72 for separating dust and other foreign particles from air drawn into the compartment in which said fan blade 68 rotates. Assembly 72 includes (Figure 14) an arcuate filter holding frame 74 extending through substantially one hundred eighty degrees of a circle and disposed in concentric relation to the casing body. At its opposite ends, the frame 74 is secured fixedly to the inner surface of the casing body, at opposite ends of a relatively narrow. elongated, transverse opening 78 formed in said casing body (Figure 15).

Supported by the holding frame 74 is a circular, flat filter 80, the filter 80 being formed to a suitable thickness, and being composed of any suitable filtering material found'bes't suited for separating dust from air while not impeding materially the passage of the air therethrough. For example, the filter could be designed to make use of an appropriately woven cotton fiber as a filtering material.

The filter 80 is removably engaged by the holding frame 74, in concentric relation to the casing, thus to be disposed in the path of air moving in the direction of the arrows withinthe suction fan compartment shown at ey'rssris "th ll li i iisui pi sw th t t e fi te .b e d againstm vcmsn wi hi t e casin a s s e '8 *filter holding frame as best shown in Figure 12, thus to enclose the filter'80. The ,grill works '82 can be of any desired construction, and for example, I might desire to use vertical bars on that grill ,workj82 disposed at the left in Figure 12, and horizontal bars on that grill work shown at theright in Figure 12. Or, alternatively, each grill work can be formed as an open mesh screen that will not interfere with the passage of the dust-laden air into the filter.

Referring to Figures l5-l7, it will be noted that means is provided upon the casing body 42, for sealing the opening 78 whenever the apparatus isin use. Said means, however, can be adjusted to an open position to permit insertion or removal of a filter 80, with maximum speed and ease. To this end, guide rods 84 are provided at opposite ends of said opening 78, said guide rods being arranged longitudinally of the-casing body 42 and being offset inwardly at one end, with the inwardly offset ends of the guide rods being welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the casing wall.

Disposed medially betweentheguide rodsj84, and arranged in parallelism with said guide rods, is a third guide rod 86,-the guide rod 86 being substantially shorter in length than the guide rods 84, so as to not extend across the opening 78. It will be readily appreciated that the purpose of this construction is to permit the filter 80 to be removed from or inserted in the holding frame 74, through the opening 78, without interference from the guide rods.

A filter holding shutter or closure member 88 is of arcuate formation (Figure l4), said closure member being proportioned to close the opening 78, when the apparatus is in use. The closure member 88 is formed with transverse sleeves at its opposite ends, said sleeves receiving the guide rods 84, thus to slidably mount the closure member 88 in a position upon the casing body in which it can be adjusted longitudinally of said casing body to and from a position in which it closes the opening 78.

Secured fixedly to the midlength portion of the closure member 88 is a'handle 90, which is utilized to facilitate adjustment of said closure member between the specified positions thereof.

On the closure member 88 there are formed longitudinal flanges, said flanges extending from end to end of the closure member. It is to be noted that when latch arms 48 are swung from the positions thereof shown in Figure 15 to the positions shown in Figure 17, the spaced lugs of the latch members will not only engage the shoulder 52 of end cap 44, but will also engage one of the longitudinal flanges of the closure member, thus to lock the closure member in its closed position. Subsequently, when the closure member is to be adjusted to the .open position thereof shown in Figure 15, it is merely necessary that the arms 48 be swung out of engagement with said longitudinal flange and shoulder. This permits the filter 80 to be removed, for substitution of a new filter, or for return of the old filter after cleaning thereof.

Means is associated with the blower assembly described above, for the purpose of disposing of dust and other foreign particles separated from air drawn into the blower assembly by the suction fan 68. Said means is the dust disposal assembly 38, which has been shown to its best advantage in Figures 12 and 13. As will be noted said dustdisposal assembly 38 includes a downwardly tapering dust trap 92 the larger, upper end of which is in full all) communication with the suctionfan compartment, ,at ,a

.locationadjacent thefilter .8 .0,, ,thustocause .dustto. shake down within thefilter and vgravitate .into said .dust trap. Thedust trap 92 .iscOnnected, at itsupper end, 'by bolts 94 to anarcuate flange 96,'formed upon the .end'cap 44, on the underside ,of said end cap. The arcuate flange '96 defines a bottomopeningin the end cap, by means of which the suction fan compartment is communicated with the upper end of the dust trap.

To insure the rigidity of the ,connectionof ,the dust trap to the end cap 44 and casing body, the casingbody ,42is formed, at that end thereof adjacent the dust trap,

with a depending lip 98 .apertured for extension of -.a

the casing body. An angular support bar 104 .is fixedly secured at one end to the underside of the casing .body 42, saidsupport bar being fixedly connected at its otherend to the ,lower end ,por.tion of the dust trap. A shaft 106 is journa'led at one end in a .bearing provided uponthe bar 104, the .driven pulley .110;being keyedor otherwise secured to the shaft 106 vfor rotation therewith. Shaft 106, intermediate its ends, is journaled in a bearing .108

carried by the dust trap 92, the .shaft extending transversely across the smaller, lower end of the dust trap.

As shownin Figures .12 and 13, there is fixedly secured,

to that portionof the shaft 106 extending across the dust trap 92, a relatively small .carrier wheel 112 for dust gravitating within the dust trap. At its smaller, lower end, the dust trap is formed, as shown in Figure 13, with outwardly curved side walls, the .periphery of the Wheel 112 being in wipin g.-engagement with said side walls. At diametrically opposite locations thereon, the dust carrier wheel is peripherally recessed as at 114, and thus it will be .seen that when the shaft 106 is rotated, dust gravitating within the dust trap 92 will drop into the peripheral recesses of the wheel 112, and will be carried about the center of rotation of the wheel, so as to be transferred to that portion of .the dust trap that is below the carrier wheel. In this way, the dust is dropped into a dust trap extension 115 integrally formed upon, and extending downwardly from, the smaller, lower end of the dust trap 92. Extension 115 has a widened part intermediate its ends, and in the inner surface of said widened part, an arcuate groove 116, extending through substantially one hundred eighty degrees of a circle, is formed, in which groove is mounted .a correspondingly shaped spray head 118. The spray head 118 is provided (Figure 13), with a series of outlet ports, said outlet ports being spaced equal distancesapart throughout the length of the spray head and being so disposed as to cause jets of water to be directed radially and inwardly of the dust trap extension, into the path of dust gravitating within said extension. As a result, the dust is precipitated in the water, so as to be drained off with the water through a drain pipe 119 connected to the lower end of the dust trap extension 115. The drain pipe 119 is connected to the sewerage or drainage system of the building, but due to the use of a dust carrier Wheel that will keep the drain system closed off from the blower assembly at all times, there is no possibility of back flow of dust, water, or odor from the drain system to the blower assembly.

The discharge of water through the ports of the spray head 118 is controlled automatically, said water being directed out of said ports whenever the apparatus is in operation, with the flow being cut off whenever operation of the apparatus ceases. This automatically controlled spray head assembly is operated by air passing out of the casing of the blower assembly, in a manner to be presently made apparent.

For the purpose of supplying water to the spray head 115%, a length of tubing 120 is provided (Figures 2 and 8). The tubing 120 is connected at its outlet end to the spray head, said tubing being connected at its inlet end to the outlet side of a valve assembly designated generally by the reference numeral 122. To the inlet side of the valve assembly 122 there is connected the outlet end of a water supply pipe 124 which, as will be appreciated, extends from the water supply system of the building.

Reference should now be had to Figures 6 and 7, wherein the valve assembly is shown in detail. The end cap 46, in which said valve assembly may be conveniently supported, has a threaded opening 126 in which is engaged the depending, complementarily threaded stud 128 of a lower end wall 129 of the valve assembly. The lower end wall 129 is provided with a peripheral series of threads, engaging complementary internal threads formed upon the lower end of a cylindrical casing 130 of the valve assembly. Within the valve casing or housing 130, there is provided valve means for controlling flow of water from an inlet nipple 132 projecting outwardly from one side of the valve housing, to an outlet nipple also designated by the reference numeral 132, and projecting outwardly from the opposite side of the housing. The water supply pipe 124 is connected to inlet nipple 132 by means of a coupling nut 134, the tubing 128 being connected to the outlet nipple by means of a similar coupling nut.

A cylindrical valve 136 has up and down movement within the housing 130, and is formed with a transverse bore 138 which, in a depressed position of the valve, registers with the nipples 132, so as to provide communication therebetween. A valve stem 140 is secured to the upper end of the valve 136, and is slidable in an opening formed in the upper end wall of the valve housing, said stem 140 being provided, on its upper end, with a rounded knob or button, the purpose of which will be presently made apparent.

The valve 136 is normally urged to a flow-closing position shown in Figure 6 by means of a spring 142 held under compression between the lower end wall 129 of the valve and the valve 136.

Referring now to Figure 12, there is here shown the means whereby the valve assembly 122 is controlled automatically, responsive to the passage of air through the blower assembly. It will be noted from Figure 12 that an elongated control lever 144 is arranged longitudinally and exteriorly of the blower assembly casing, said lever being fulcrumed upon a pin 14-6 carried by the end cap 46. The end cap 46, as previously noted herein, has a circumferential shoulder 54, and said shoulder can be slotted at one point upon its circumference for extension of the control lever 144 therethrough. Pin 146 would extend between the walls of the slot in the shoulder, to provide for a rockable mounting of the lever 144.

At one end, the lever 144 is formed with a widened head portion 148, said head portion 148 overlying the stem 14% and being arranged to engage the button of the stem for depressing the valve 136, whenever the lever 144 is swung in a clockwise direction upon its pivot 146 (viewing the lever as in Figure 12).

On the other end of the lever 144, there is provided a flattened part. It will be noted that adjacent to said other end of the lever, the lever is guided between upstanding guide members 150 secured to and projecting upwardly from the casing wall 42. The guide means 150 assures the accurate up and down rocking movement of the lever, while at the same time preventing lateral deviation or wobbling of the lever upon its pivot 146.

Said other end or the lever 144, as previously noted herein, has a flattened part, and as shown in Figure 12, said part, while substantially fiat, is in actuality of concave convex formation, the part in question being of disc-like formation to define a substantially circular head 152 on the control lever. The-head152 is provided, on its-under side, with a depending enlargement or boss, that is engageable in the air outlet opening 154 of the suction fan compartment, whenever the control lever 144 is rocked counterclockwise in Figure 12.

From the construction illustrated and described, it is apparent that if the suction fan 68 is rotated by energizing of the motor 58, air will be drawn through the suction fan compartment in the direction of the arrows shown in Figure 12. Said air will be separated from the dust with which it is charged, by passage through the filter 80. Thereafter, the stale or exhausted air, sepa rated from the dust, passes out of the suction fan compartment through the outlet opening 154. It is to be noted, in this regard, that the control lever 144 is counterbalanced upon its pivot 146, and therefore,the movement of the air through the outlet opening 154 will be effective to rock the lever 144 in a clockwise direction about its pivot 146, thus to cause the stem 14% to be depressed. This causes the valve to open, permitting water to flow to the spray head 118. Therefore, whenever the motor is in operation and air is being circulated through the blower assembly by the suction fan 63, the air so circulated will cause the spray head control valve to be opened, thus causing, in turn, a spray of water within the dust trap, that will precipitate the dust gravitating within said trap.

The disc-like head 152 of lever 14-4 underlies a complementarily shaped head 156 of a second lever 158. The lever 158 is also arranged longitudinally of and above the upper surface of the blower assembly casing, and is fulcrumed intermediate its ends upon a pin 164i extending between the walls of a slot formed in the shoulder 52 of the end cap 44.

That end of the lever 158 remote from the head 156 is formed with a depending extension tapered to define a circular valve member 162 engageable in a relief opening 164 formed in the end cap 44.

It will be apparent that whenever the apparatus is in operation, and air is being forced out of the outlet open ing 154, not only will water flow to the spray head 118, but also, the valve member 162 will shift into the seat provided therefor in the relief opening 164 of the end cap, thus to cause said relief opening to be closed.

The purpose of the relief opening 164 is to provide breathing means for the suction fan compartment, and some means of air suction for the slowing of suction fan blade 68 when the motor is shut oif and all other avenues of air are sealed.

The lever 15%, of course, will also be counterbalanced upon its fulcrum point 161 so as to permit both the lever 144 and the lever 158 to be rocked upwardly, at the overlapping ends thereof, when the motor is in operation, with minimum exertion of air pressure thereagainst.

Referring now to Figure 24, there is here illustrated the means whereby fresh air is drawn into the apparatus, when the motor is in operation. A cap 166 of domelilre formation is formed with an open lower end, and mounted in circumferentially spaced relation in said open lower end of the cap see are centering springs 168. The centering springs 163 are formed as arcuate leaf springs, anchored at one end to the wall of the cap 166. The springs 163, at their free ends, engage the upper end portion of a fresh air intake conduit having, at its capped, inlet end, an elbow 176.

it is desirable, of course, that air entering the fresh air intake conduit be filtered so as to be clear of dust or other foreign particles, and accordingly, a filter cup 171 is mounted in the inlet end of the elbow 179. Cup 171, as shown in Figure 26, has a peripherally extending, outwardly directed flange formed thereon, said flange being perforated throughout its circumference as best shown in Figure 25. The flange extends across the full asserts .diarneter ofthe cap .166, and thus, air .enteri-ng the-open lower end of the cap 166 is required toipass through the perforations of the flange. Thereaftenthe air isdirected into the body of the filter cup,passing.through-a suit-able ;filte1' meanscarriedin said cup. The-filtermeanspina pre- .-ferred.embodirnent of the invention, includes loose cot- .end to .permit the filtered .air; to .pass into the :fresh air intake. conduit.

As shown in Figure 2.7, the ainletend of -the 'fresh air intake conduit is disposed exteriorly -of azbuilding Bin which .the apparatus is mounted. The elbow .170, as shown :in .Figilre 27, is ,mountedmponalength of piping 172, extending to the blower assembly. il hepiping 172, at that end thereof connected .to the blower assembly,

vis ,circumferentially .crimped, -.for engagement in an ex- ,teriorly .threaded connecting sleeve 174 formed .upon ithe smaller .end .of the .end cap .46. Sleeve .174 .provides an :inlet opening in-the fresh air fancompartrnentshown at -.the.right in vFigure l2, and circumposedabout the piping :1-72 is a coupling nut -1'7'8 rthreadably engageable with .the.sleeve-17.4.

The fresh air .fancompartment also has an outlet 180, .said .outlet 180 :being disposed in closely spaced relation {to :the ,midlength portionof ithe lower assembly casing. The construction .of the casing at this point along "its length is'best shown in Figures ;1 and 1:1, and as will be noted, .tbe casing .is formed with an integral, :laterally extended .pipe member .exteriorly threaded at :its .outer end forengagement :by a .nut 18; carried upon .the adja- .cent, .e.nd .of afresh air outlet conduit 18.4. ,-Conduit.18 4 constitutes .a main conduit, through which ,fresh air is supplied to the several rooms .of the building B. Ehe conduit 18,54 is provided, .where it is connected .to the outlet 180 ,of ,casing :body .42, with .a circumferential shoulder engaging the adjacent'end .offltbe .casing outlet, the nut 1-82 engaging against said .shoulder to .provide a .tight connection between the conduit 18.4 audit-he .casing outlet. Hihe fresh air intake conduit 172 :is similarly formed -,with a shoulder l76 ,engaged :by the nut 178 (Figure :12).

As shown .in Figure 27, in the main firesh air outlet eon- ,duit 1&4 ,there is provided ,an air relief valve assembly, mounted upon an elbow 18.6. -"The..-construction of .this part of the apparatus has been shown to particular advantage in Figures 375, and as will be noted, the elbow 186 .is connected to .the adjacent portion of tube conduit 164, by means ,of a split .ringnlamp 188.

iEorrned in the .elbow 18.6, intermediate .opposite ends thereof, is a relief opening ll-9,0, .in which is ,engageable a valve :head 192 secured ,to ,one ,end .of an arm 194. Arm ran, at its other end, is pivotally mounted upon the ,elbow 18.6, said arrn :being biased in the opening 19.0 by means .of a spring 19.6. when (the arm 194 is biased to its closed position shown in Fzie sfi 4 and 5, .the valve head 192 will engage in the opening 190. Q

The purpose .of the relief valve assembly. shown in Figures ,4 and Sis to permit the relief ,of air ifiorced into .the fresh air ,outlet conduit, whenever said air isdenied .entry into the rooms of the building. F rth r, the re.- 'lief .valve has an q alizing function, n that t will open whenever the pressure within the iresh ,air conduit system becomes too great, this equalizing ilunction being discharged even when fresh air is being forced. into the rooms of the building.

After the air passes through the elbow 186, it is directed through piping 198, the piping 198 constituting par-t of the fresh air outlet conduit. Piping 1 98 constitutes a. main, and connected to said piping by clamps 200 (Figure 27*), at locations spaced long itudinally of the piping, are the inlet ends of fresh air branch conduits 202.

direction. .of .the

' on which the lift bars The branch conduits, 'ofcourse, are connected by clamps 200 in communicationwith the ;main piping 198 of the fresh air outlet conduit,-t he arrangement being such as-to cause air -to.be forced 1 uniformly -t-hrough-the several branch conduit-s whenever the apparatus is in operation.

Theapparatus-also includes asuctionconduitythrough which dust-laden air is drawn from the rooms of the building to the blower-assembly. That end of the-suction conduit that is connectedto the blower assembly is attached to :the end cap 4.401 the casing-of the blower assembly, by means of an exteriorly knurled connecting nut or collar 204.

The suction conduit has been designated by the reference numeral 206, and as shown -in Figure 27, there are utilized a plurality of branch suction conduits 210, connected to the main .suction conduit .by means of clamps 208.

Referring now to Figures =l-8 to 23 inclusive, in each room of the building, -in a-wall W thereof, I provide a panel assembly .designatcd generally by ;the --reference numeral 212. The panel assembly, as shown .in the specified figures of the drawings, includes a relatively shallow, rectangular receptacle 2:14 mountable in a suitable opening or recess formed (in the wall "The -.receptacle 2-14 is provided with .a hinged :lid 216 which is normally biased to an .open .position :by means .of a spring 218. The lid, along .itsfreeorouterilongitudinal edge, is provided with spaced slots '220, andengageable .in saidslots are :hookdikelatch .members 1222. Theilatch members 222 are secured fixedly -.to :lift bars 224 disposed within the receptacle 2.14. Also rigid .with :the lift .bars 224 are depending ears 226, said .ears extending .down- .wardly through slots .formed inthe wall ,of the receptacle 224 are supported. The ears 22.6, exteriorly .of .the receptacle :214, .are ,fixedly connected by an elongated connecting .rod '228.

.By reason of .this arrangement, .it .will be ;seen .that .to latch the lid 216 .in closed position, ,it .is merely necessary that said lid :be swung to .a closed position, against the restraining action .of spring 218. The lid will .ultimately .be engaged with the latch members 222, said latch members extending through the slots 2.20 and .engaging the .edges .of said slotsl Subsequently, when it is 'desired that the lid 216 be .opened, one need merely press upwardly upon the connecting rod 228. This will cause the latch members 222 to be shifted out ofengagement .with the slot edges, and the spring 21-8 will thus be iree to .bias the lid to the openposition thereof shown in Figures 18 and 19.

warm the receptacle 214 .thereare .gnounted spaced, identically formed connecting flanges 230. \Connecting -flanges 230 are .of circular formation, and are projected outwardly from the inner Wall of thereceptacle. The outwardly projecting ed gepor-tions of the connecting flanges are extended inwardly, and have diametrically opposite locking notches 232.

The flanges are concentric with and bound openings framed in the in e l o the eptac e 21 e ur d 9 t e back s r ace o theirae Wa a also i posed in sonce t ic re a ing t sa d onening a e ea wa dly x e ded, fl nged nipple 1236- T n pp e ar adapted t be co ne t d semm ri tion t the a iassm e d 9 th br nch suc ion an t es air ndui clamp 3.6 ei uti ze to sec e t e conn ct o The particular construction ,of veach cleaning .tool 36 need not be described herein. ;It is sufiicient tor ,the purpose .of this application to point out that .each cleaning tool includes a suitable length of flexible vacuum hose 238, which can be of woven construction. At its outer end, the hose 238-has a cleaning tool element 240 11 secured thereto, said element including a suction nozzle or the like.

At its other or inner end, the hose 238 receives, and grips, one end of a sleeve element 242 (Figure 19). Element 242, as shown in Figure 19, projects out of the adjacent end of the hose 238, and is formed, on its projecting portion, with diametrically opposite lugs 244. The lugs 244 are extendable through the notches 2.32, after which partial rotation of the sleeve element 242 is suflicient to lock said sleeve element within the connecting flange 230 of the panel assembly. A sealing collar 246 is circumposed about the projecting portion of the sleeve element, and is shiftable longitudinally of said sleeve element, the collar 246 being urged into sealing engagement with the flange 230 by means of a coil spring 248 circumposed about the sleeve element.

It will thus be seen that whenever the lid 216 swings to an open position, the openings of the panel assembly that communicate with the branch suction and fresh air conduits, respectively, are exposed. Therefore, operation of the motor will cause fresh air to be forced into the room through that opening communicating with the branch fresh air conduit. At the same time, a suction will be set up within the other opening of the panel assembly, thereby permitting a cleaning tool to be connected in communication with the last-named opening.

When the lid is closed, as shown in Figure 23, said openings are sealed. To this end, there are provided, on the inner surface of the lid 216, spaced, disc-like caps 250. The caps 250 can be formed of any suitable sealing material, such as soft rubber, or the like. The caps 250, as shown in Figures 18 and 19, are formed with center openings 252 in which metal, sleeve-like liners are mounted. The liners are interiorly threaded, for engagement by screws 254, said screws being extended through openings formed in the lid 216 for the purpose of securing the caps 250 in place upon the inner surface of the lid.

If one so desires, he can seal off one or both of the openings of the panel assembly, with the lid open. To this end, a plug shown in Figure 22 is used. The plug is formed as a flat, disc-like stopple 256, having diametrically opposite lugs 258 thereon, which lugs are engageable by the connecting flange 230 of the receptacle 214, the lugs 258 being extendable through the notches 232 of said connecting flange.

A spring member 260 is carried by the stopple, and can be grasped as a handle, the ends of said spring member engaging the edges of the respective flanges 230 when the plugs are being used.

In Figure 20 there is shown a switch means embodied in each panel assembly. The purpose of this switch means is to cause the motor 58 to go into operation whenever the lid 216 of any panel assembly in the building is opened. The switch means, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, includes a cup-like housing 262 of insulating material, secured to the outer surface of the inner wall of receptacle 214, and projecting inwardly within the wall W in which the panel assembly is mounted. The switch housing 262, at that end thereof remote from the receptacle 214, is formed open, and exteriorly threaded, for connection of an end wall 264 thereto. End wall 264 is also of insulating material, and has a center boss formed with a recess in which is engaged a spring 266. Spring 266 is held under compression between the inner wall of the recess, and the inner end of a plunger 268. Plunger 268 slides in an opening 270 formed in the opposite end wall of the switch housing 262. The outer end of the plunger projects outwardly from the wall W, within the receptacle 214, as best shown in Figure 20.

Carried by the plunger 268 are contact elements 272. In this connection, it will be understood that the plunger 268 will be of electrically conductive material, the contact elements 272 also being of an electrically conductive nature. However, the receptacle 214, or at least that portion thereof surrounding the plunger 268, should be of insulative material.

In any event, the contact elements 272 are engageable against stationary contact elements 274 mounted upon the switch housing, at diametrically opposite locations therein. Ordinarily, when the lid 216 is closed, the plunger 268 will be depressed to an extent suflicient to cause the contact elements 272 to be spaced away from the elements 274, As a result, the circuit including the switch means will be open. Whenever, however, the lid 216 is open as shown in Figure 20, the spring 266, being now free to expand, will urge the plunger 268 to the left in Figure 20, thus to cause the elements 272 to engage the elements 274. As a result, the elements 274 will be bridged, thus causing a circuit to be closed through the switch.

Elements 274 are carried by conductive terminal screws 276, said terminal screws having leads connected thereto. The leads connected to the terminal screws would, as will be understood, be in circuit with the motor 58.

I have not illustrated a circuit in the drawings, since I believe the provision of a suitable electrical circuit is well within the ordinary skill of those working in the art. The circuit should be of such a nature as to cause operation of the electric motor whenever any lid 216 in the building is open. Thus, cleaning tools can be used simultaneously in a number of rooms in the building, and the motor will remain in operation from the time the first cleaning tool is placed in use, continuously up to the time the last cleaning tool is taken out of use.

The lid 216, on its inner surface, is provided with a button 278 of insulating material, said button being connected by a screw to the lid, and being so disposed as to engage the outer end of the plunger 268 whenever the lid is swung to closed position. When the button 27% engages a plunger, it depresses the plunger, so as to shift the elements 272 away from the elements 274, thereby opening the circuit.

From the construction illustrated and described, it will be apparent that the apparatus is not only a vacuum cleaning apparatus, but is also an air conditioning apparatus. The apparatus can be permanently installed in any building, whether it be a residence, apartment building, office building, or the like. The installation, when completed, permits one to plug a cleaning tool into a vacuum outlet in any room in the building. The mere operation of opening the lid of the panel assembly, and plugging in the cleaning tool, causes the apparatus to go into an operating state, so as to cause fresh air to be supplied to the room, simultaneously with the exhaustion of dust-laden air therefrom. During the operation of the structure, the dust-laden air is filtered clear of dust and other foreign particles, with the dust being precipitated into the drain pipe system of the building. At the same time, a spray assembly is placed in operation, aiding in the precipitation of the dust. The fresh air supplied to the building, of course, is filtered clean prior to its entry into the room, providing another desirable feature in the construction.

It is also believed to be of importance that the construction illustrated and described eliminates the use of dust bags and other receptacles in which germ laden dust and dirt accumulates. The precipitation of the dust is a continuing function of the structure, so that there is never any accumulation therein.

It is also believed to be of importance that the construction illustrated and described is such as to cause the vacuum cleaning functions of the apparatus to be carried out independently of the supplying of fresh air to the rooms, if the user so desires. One need only, in this instance, insert a plug such as that shown in Figure 22 in the fresh air opening of the panel assembly. The air relief valve shown in Figures 3-5 will then go into operation, if necessary, to relieve the fresh air conduit system of air forced therethrough.

It is believed apparent that the invention is not necessarily confined to the specific use or uses thereof described above, since it may be utilized for any purpose to which it may be suited. Nor is the invention to be necessarily limited to the specific construction illustrated and described above, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles of operation and the means presently devised to carry out said principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A vacuum cleaning apparatus comprising: a hollow casing having a suction fan compartment formed with an exhaust opening; a suction fan within the compartment for producing air circulation through said compartment; a suction conduit extending to the compartment from a location remote from said casing, whereby to draw dust laden air through said conduit, circulate said air through the compartment, and exhaust the air through said opening, responsive to rotation of said suction fan; a drain conduit communicating with said compartment; filter means within the suction fan compartment arranged for separating dust from air circulated through said compartment, said filter means being located above the drain opening for precipitating dust into the drain conduit; a peripherally recessed wheel rotatably mounted in the drain conduit, for transferring dust past said wheel within the drain conduit; means linking said fan and wheel for joint operation; and a valved spray assembly mounted for spraying the dust gravitating within the drain conduit, thereby to aid in the precipitation of said dust, said spray assembly having a lever associated therewith for controlling the passage of a spray liquid through the spray assembly, said lever being rocked to a valve opening position by air forced out of said compartment through said exhaust opening.

2. A vacuum cleaning apparatus comprising a hollow casing having an air intake opening and an air exhaust opening; a suction fan mounted within the casing between the openings arranged for drawing air into the casing through the intake opening, and for forcing the air through the casing and out the exhaust opening; a drain conduit communicating with the casing at a location between the openings; means located within the casing above the conduit and in the path of the air passing through the casing, for precipitating dust in said air into the conduit; a peripherally recessed wheel rotatable in the conduit for transferring accumulations of dust past the wheel within the conduit; means linking the fan and wheel for joint op'er ation; a spray head mounted within the conduit in a position to spray with liquid the dust transferred past the Wheel; a liquid supply conduit communicating with the spray head; a valve in the liquid supply conduit for controlling the flow of liquid therethrough to the spray head; and means for opening the valve responsive to exhaustion of air through the exhaust opening, and for closing the valve on cessation of air movement through said exhaust opening.

3. A vacuum cleaning apparatus comprising a hollow casing having an air intake opening and an air exhaust opening; a suction fan mounted within the casing between the openings arranged for drawing air into the casing through the intake opening, and for forcing the air through the casing and out the exhaust opening; a drain conduit communicating with the casing at a location between the openings; means located within the casing above the conduit and in the path of the air pass ing through the casing, for precipitating dust in said air into the conduit; a peripherally recessed wheel rotatable in the conduit for transferring accumulations of dust past the wheel within the conduit; means linking the fan and wheel for joint operation; a spray head mounted within the conduit in a position to spray with liquid the dust transferred past the wheel; a liquid supply conduit communicating with the spray head; a valve in the liquid supply conduit for controlling the flow of liquid therethrough to the spray head; and means for opening the valve responsive to exhaustion of air through the exhaust opening, and for closing the valve on cessation of air movement through said exhaust opening, said last named means comprising a lever fulcrumed intermediate its ends upon the casing, one end of the lever extending adjacent the valve and being adapted for opening the valve on rocking of the lever in one direction about its pivot axis, the other end of the lever being weighted to normally swing the lever in an opposite direction, and a disc-like head on said other end of the lever overlying the exhaust opening and adapted, on swinging of the lever in said other direction, to close the exhaust opening, said disclike head being adapted to be forced upwardly out of its exhaust opening closing position responsive to movement of air through the exhaust opening, movement of said lever head under pressure of air exhausted through the exhaust opening being adapted for rocking the lever in the first named direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 13,078 Hammer Jan. 25, 1910 294,248 McIntyre Feb. 26, 1884 325,713 Taylor et a1. Sept. 8, 1885 566,554 Young et a1 Aug. 25, 1896 1,046,884 Spencer Dec. 10, 1912 1,087,228 Ferguson Feb. 17, 1914 1,228,931 Kirk June 5, 1917 1,255,176 Kellogg Feb. 5, 1918 1,483,228 McCullough Feb. 12, 1924 1,533,271 Replogle Apr. 14, 1925 1,597,312 Cesa Aug. 24, 1926 1,618,667 Melcher Feb. 22, 1927 1,929,776 Faber Oct. 10, 1933 2,616,114 Kroenlein Nov. 4, 1952 

